[The Accused] sentenced to two years for sending threatening email to the Calgary Fire Department about carnage at Stampede

Threatening massive carnage at last summer’s Calgary Stampede has landed a Calgary man with an obsession with guns a two-year jail term.

Provincial court Judge Joanne Durant on Thursday agreed with Crown prosecutor Aurelie Beland further jail time was warranted for [The Accused], who sent a threatening email to the Calgary Fire Department last May.

Durant said [The Accused] would have to serve an additional 15 months and 21 days on top of the nine months and eight days he’s served since his arrest last June.

The judge also sentenced [The Accused] to an additional month for breaching conditions of a peace bond he was under at the time of his arrest.

In his email last May 26, [The Accused], who had two semi-automatic rifles illegally stored at his parents’ home, threatened a blood-bath at the annual affair.

“There is going to be a machine gun attack at the Calgary Stampede this year,” he wrote.

“Two MG-53s rated at 1,800 rpm.

“There will be over 1,000+ casualties.”

Durant said even though [The Accused] didn’t carry out his threat and meant it to draw attention to his belief in 9/11 conspiracy theories, it had to be taken seriously by the authorities.

And she said in light of real terrorist attacks in the past, even making such a threat had a chilling effect on the public.

“When the citizens of Calgary hear about the threat ... they will suffer a loss,” Durant said.

“That loss will be the fact that the next time they attend the Stampede or other major tourist attractions in the city they won’t feel as safe while doing so.”

The judge also said the fact [The Accused] had the capability to carry out the threat, because he owned firearms which could cause such carnage, was a serious aggravating factor.

“The words were made all the more terrifying because there was substance behind them,” she said

Durant also said a psychiatric assessment on [The Accused] was concerning.

Dr. Ken Hashman noted during a psychiatric stay in 2004 [The Accused] said he had a “long-standing interest in weapons and war” and was “repeatedly thinking of joining the paratroopers because he needs to kill.”

Outside court, defence counsel Greg Dunn said his client was unhappy he would have to serve more time.

“He’s obviously disappointed with that,” Dun said.

Along with the jail period, [The Accused] will serve three years of probation, Durant said.